Merry-go-round



May 20, 1958' R. J. MEYERS MERRY-GQ-ROUND Filed Jul 2, 1956 I INVENTOR Roy J Meyers United States PatentO MERRY-GO-ROUND Roy J. Meyers, North Sacramento, Calif. Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,340 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-30 merry-go-round and of a teeter-totter; the latter feature being capable of being readily prevented from functioning if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective occupant-operated mechanism for rotating the bar unit, and without such mechanism interfering with the teeter-totter action of said bar unit. j

A further object of the invention is to arrange the supporting structure of the bar unit so that while it will provide a wide spread base for such bar unit in any rotated position of the latter, the base may be folded so as to occupy a minimum of space for storage or transportation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a merry-go-round which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable merry-go-round, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved merry-goround.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the mounting and rotating features of the bar unit.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan, partly broken out and in section, of the central portion of the bar unit, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. l, and showing in addition the means employed to prevent rocking or teeter-tottering movement of the bar unit relative to the vertical supporting spindle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the apparatus comprises a base which includes a tubular member 1 having a top cap 2 on which is rigidly supported an upstanding rigid spindle 3, which also depends into 2,835,49l Patented May 20, 1958 I 2 member 1 axially and for shown in Fig. 5. I

Extending upwardly into the member 1, in grouped and fitting relation about the spindle, are legs 4preferably four in number--which, at their upper end, abut against the cap 2. At their lower end, the legs are bent outwardly to form elongated feet 5 which, by rotation of the respective legs, may be disposed in different positions relative to each other. The feet may thus be set at 90 to each other, substantially radially of the member 1, as shown in Fig. 4, or swung so that adjacent feet are substantially parallel and close to each other, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure.

Thelegs are clamped within member 1 so that the feet occupy any desired positions relative to each other the full length thereof, as

/ by suitable means such as opposed wedge strips 6 disposed between the corresponding adjacent legs, and engaged by set screws 7 threaded through member 1; the

upper ones of said screws also securing the cap 2 against movement. The screws, when advanced, press the strips 6 against the legs 4 and in so doing clamp adjacent legs against each other, and to the member 1.

An elongated occupant-supporting bar unit 8 is constructed and supported from the spindle 3 as follows:

The bar unit comprises longitudinally spaced bars 9 preferably of tubular form and of equal length-rigidly connected at their adjacent ends by transversely spaced straps 10; the space between which is greater than the diameterof the spindle 3, as shown in Fig. 6.

With the bar unit 8 straddling the spindle, an elongated gap or slot 11 is-formed between the adjacent ends of bars 9 on opposite sides of the spindle; cushion plugs or pads 12 being mounted in and projecting from the adjacent ends of the bars'and into the gap 11.

' The bar unit is'disposed in ahonizontal plane a relatively short distance above member 1, and mounted on the spindle 3 some distance above the bar unit is a sleeve, 13 having a rounded head end 14 which engages in a recess 15-elongated lengthwise of the bar-unitand which is formed in a block 16. This block has a hole 17 above and centrally of the recess, and through which the spindle 3-projects in clearance relation. Said block is fixed rigid with the bar unit 8 by means of a strap yoke 18 which, at its lower end, is rigidly secured to bar members 9 at the ends of straps 10. The members 9 are braced against vertical deflection by means of tension rods 19 extending from the yoke 18 adjacent the top thereof to adjacent the outer ends. of said members 9. The bar unit may, therefore, be made of relatively light construction and yet have ample strength for its purpose. Suitable seats 20 are mounted-on the bar unit at its ends.

Secured on the upper end of the spindle 3-a short distance above block 16-is a substantially horizontal crank 21 having an upstanding pin 22 on its outer end. The pin is engaged, in loose play relation, by eyes 23 separate from each other. Push-pull rods 24 are rigid with the eyes, and at their outer ends are provided with other eyes 25, disposed at right angles to eyes 23.

Levers 26 are pivoted intermediate their ends, as at 27, on the bar members 9 in positions convenient for manipulation by the occupants of the corresponding seats 20; these levers being made so as to straddle the bar members 9, and the brace rods 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Transverse pins 28 in the levers near their upper end and about on a level with the crank 21, pass in clearance or loose-play relation through eyes 25, which are straddled by the side elements of the levers.

Hand grips 29 project transversely from the levers at their upper ends, while transverse foot-engaging rods or rests 30 similarly project from the lower ends of the levers.

By reason of the above described arrangement of parts,

3 it will be seen that oscillation of the levers will impart rotation to the bar unit 8 about the fixed spindle 3 and crank 21. Such oscillation is effected by the occupants placing their hands on the grips 29 and their feet on the bars 30, and using their hand and foot pressure in properly synchronized relation.

A teeter-totter movement of the bar unit may be obtained in conjunction with the rotary movement of the bar unit if desired; said bar unit swinging on the block 16 and the arc of swinging being limited by the engagement of the cushion pads 12 with the spindle 3.

These different movements of the bar unit 8 may take place without any binding of the rods 24 relative to the stationary crank 21 by reason of the loose-play fit of the eyes 23 and 25 on the respective pins 22 and 28, and the independent mounting of the levers 26.

In the event that a teeter-totter action is not desired, or cannot well be obtained because of a relatively great difference in the weights of the children on the seats 21), the bar unit may be maintained in a horizontal planeby means of pins 31 extending across the gap 11 on opposite sides of the spindle 3, as shown in Fig. 6, and projecting through suitably located holes 32 in the straps 10, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A merry-go-round comprising a supporting base including an upstanding nonturuable spindle, an elongated bar unit arranged at its ends for occupant support, said unit comprising a pair of alined but spaced-apart bars of somewhat greater width than the diameter of the spindle, and straps rigidly connecting the bars at adjacent ends and defining an open elongated slot therebetween, the spindle projecting through the slot to a termination well above the same; means between the bar unit and spindle supporting the bar unit from the spindle for rocking of the unit in a vertical plane; the bars being hollow and open ended, and cushion pads initially separate from and removably mounted in the adjacent ends of the bars and projecting into a slot between the connecting straps for alternate engagement with the spindle upon rocking movement of the bar unit through a predetermined arc in a vertical plane.

2. A merry-go-round comprising a supporting base including an upstanding non-turnable spindle, an elongated bar unit arranged at its ends for occupant support, said unit comprising a pair of alined but spaced-apart bars of somewhat greater width than the diameter of the spindle, and straps rigidly connecting the bars at adjacent ends and defining an open elongated slot therebetween through which the spindle projects; means between the bar unit and spindle supporting the bar unit from the spindle for rocking of the unit relative to the spindle in a vertical plane and for independent rotation about the spindle as an axis, and pins removably mounted in the bar-connecting straps and spanning the slot on opposite sides of the normal position of the spindle in such relation thereto asto rprevent rocking of the bar unit in a vertical plane.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sebel July 17, 

